Texas senior living facility operated for months without AC, and the city is just now handing out window units in 100-degree heat

For older adults in South Texas, a broken air-conditioning system is far more than an inconvenience or minor discomfort.

Dozens of residents at Laredo's Hamilton Senior Apartments have been living for months without central air, according to city officials, creating a serious health and safety issue with no immediate end in sight. Local leaders are relying on short-term cooling help while waiting for specialized parts needed for repair.

Here's what to know

A permanent fix may still be months away because officials are waiting on custom components, KGNS reported last week. While that process continues, the city has distributed window AC units and fans. The residents have been without working central air for months.

The outage prompted a special meeting at City Hall on Aug. 14, KGNS reported Sunday. The city budget was also discussed at that meeting, and the City Council approved the purchase of portable units for two-bedroom apartments.

Exposure to heat can quickly become a public health concern for many people — but especially for older adults, who are generally more vulnerable to heat stress, dehydration, and complications tied to heart or respiratory conditions.

Temporary equipment may ease conditions, but it does not mean the problem is close to over. The city has implemented twice weekly wellness checks for every apartment, KGNS noted, and residents are moved to a cooling center if a unit reaches 90 degrees.

More background

Air-conditioning outages can be a headache in any home, but they are especially serious in buildings that serve older residents, who may have mobility limitations or medical needs that make high temperatures hard to manage.

Window units and fans can reduce risk, but they are not always a replacement for central air. Cooling can be uneven from room to room, energy use may rise, and residents can still struggle to stay comfortable.

When repairs require custom parts, delays can stretch on even when officials are responsive, leaving vulnerable residents caught in the middle. People can be hit by the strain of an AC outage especially during severe heat waves.

What's being done?

The city is looking to spend up to $5 million to upgrade the building.

"When we get reports from the department, everything's great, everything's fine," District 7 Council Member Vanessa Perez said, per KGNS. "When you go out in the field or when you talk to people that live there, they tell a different story."

Because the required parts have not arrived, residents at Hamilton Senior Apartments may remain dependent on temporary cooling through more dangerous heat.

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